International Women’s Day 2025

On this International Women’s Day, we are highlighting Civil Engineer Michelly Santana, celebrating her achievements and the importance of gender equality in engineering.

Michelly joined HWA in September 2024, bringing a wealth of site work experience and a strong academic background in civil engineering from Brazil. Driven by her passion for mathematics and physics, civil engineering was a natural career choice. Her enthusiasm, ambition, and technical knowledge are already making a positive impact on the team, exemplifying the value of diverse perspectives in the industry.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is #AccelerateAction to achieve gender equality. Engineering remains a male-dominated field, where women still face challenges such as underrepresentation, bias, and barriers to career progression. By celebrating the successes of women like Michelly, we not only acknowledge their contributions but also work toward breaking down these barriers, challenging outdated stereotypes, and fostering an inclusive environment where all talent can thrive.

Gender equality in STEM fields is essential not only for fairness but also for fostering innovation, problem-solving, and a greater progression of society. Having a diverse team leads to fresh ideas, varied approaches, and improved solutions. Promoting greater female participation in the field is crucial for creating a more inclusive and forward-looking profession.

As we mark International Women’s Day, it’s important to recognise that gender equality is not guaranteed. When women’s rights around the world are currently facing enormous setbacks, we must remain committed to ensuring that hard-fought gains are not lost. Supporting and championing women in engineering is just one way of promoting a more just and equal society.

By highlighting role models like Michelly, we hope to inspire future generations of women engineers and reinforce the message that talent and determination, not gender, should define success in the field.